General Information
Type of contract
Fixed-term contract which may be converted into a permanent contract after three years subject to individual performance and organisational needs
Who can apply?
EU nationals
Salary
F/G (bracket 3 - step 1) full time monthly net salary: €6,807 plus benefits, for further information see
what we offer.
Role specialisation
Media Relations
Working time
Full time
On-call?
Yes
Shift?
Yes
Place of work
Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Closing date
25.08.2024
Your team
You will be part of the Newsroom Division in the Directorate General Communications. Our Directorate General comprises around 200 professionals responsible for communicating the official views of the ECB, the Eurosystem and the European System of Central Banks (ESCB). We aim to build trust in the ECB by improving public understanding of our work, including the work of ECB Banking Supervision. We develop and implement internal and external communications strategies and policies, manage all media relations and public affairs and respond to enquiries from the media.
In your role as Principal Press Officer, you will be part of a team of around 35 media and communications professionals responsible for planning and implementing media activities, responding to media enquiries and monitoring and analysing the media impact of ECB communications. The team has regular contact with members of the ECB’s Executive Board and Supervisory Board and their respective offices, as well as counterparts across other areas of the ECB, to support the ECB’s communications activities and make the ECB more accessible to a wide range of audiences. In this role, you will work closely with an Executive Board member in addition to interacting with various internal and external stakeholders. You will work closely with others in our Directorate General as part of cross-divisional teams handling strategic communication projects or urgent tasks.
The ECB is an inclusive employer and we strive to reflect the diversity of the population we serve. We encourage you to apply irrespective of age, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, race, religious beliefs, sexual orientation or other characteristics.
Your role
As a Principal Press Officer you will:
- develop and maintain relationships with the media, including responding to media enquiries about the ECB, organising and preparing briefings for media activities involving members of the ECB’s Executive Board, ECB management and experts and monitoring and evaluating media reports on issues of relevance to the ECB;
- advise ECB officials on external speaking opportunities and provide support for related media activities, including high-level international meetings and other events;
- work with colleagues in the Newsroom to leverage and create content for channels that go beyond traditional media, including digital content and internal communications, including developing new tools such as artificial intelligence to support and enhance the ECB’s communications;
- act as a bridge between the ECB and the outside world, collaborating with ECB experts to understand their communication needs and advise on communications strategies, working closely with colleagues across the Directorate General Communications;
- support the regular review of internal processes and drive the team’s contribution to the ECB’s business continuity and crisis communication arrangements.
The position offers you excellent opportunities to demonstrate strong communication skills and strategic thinking skills as you help to optimise the impact of ECB communications, anticipate communications challenges and contribute to making the ECB better understood. You will be part of a multicultural team that strives for continuous innovation to make a positive impact on the lives of European citizens.
Qualifications, experience and skills
Essential:
- a master’s degree or equivalent in communications, journalism, economics, political science, business administration or another relevant field (see How you can join us for details on degree equivalences);
- in addition to the above, at least 16 years of relevant experience in the field of central banking communications or economic journalism;
- experience in managing sensitive topics and a proven ability to apply strong judgement skills;
- an excellent understanding of the mission, tasks and responsibilities of the ECB;
- proven written and verbal communication skills, with an eye for detail;
- experience in managing and ensuring engagement with diverse audiences and stakeholders;
- a mastery-level (C2) command of Italian and an advanced (C1) command of English, according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.
Desired:
- an excellent understanding of the media landscape, especially Italian and international media, and how it operates;
- prior experience in journalism;
- a proven track record of devising, recommending and leading communications initiatives;
- an intermediate (B1) command of at least one other official language of the EU, according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.
You engage collaboratively with others. You pursue team goals and learn willingly from other people’s diverse perspectives. You signal any need for change by explaining it and proposing alternative solutions. You analyse complex information effectively and can evaluate different views to arrive at solutions. You know and anticipate stakeholder needs.
You are motivated to be part of our team and to develop and use your skills and competencies to achieve the aims of this position.
Working modalities
The Newsroom often deals with fast-moving events where a rapid response is required, sometimes outside of normal working hours. You must be comfortable working in a fast-paced environment where flexibility and a can-do attitude are essential.
You will also be expected to occasionally participate in the team’s on-call working patterns and perform shift work at weekends and sometimes work and travel during non-standard working hours, depending on business needs.
We would be happy to discuss a part-time arrangement for this role.
Further information
For additional information on this specific vacancy, you can speak to the hiring manager, Paul Gordon, on +49 172 2535723 between 10:00 and 17:00 on Monday, 5 August.
Application and selection process
The recruitment process for this position will be conducted remotely. It will include a written exercise, a presentation and an interview.
If you are not selected for this position but are still considered suitable, you will be placed on a reserve list (see step 4 of
How we hire), from which you might be considered for similar positions within the ECB.
